Poodle Skirts, Pokémon, and Pet Rocks: Interviewing the Generations

Although not all generational stereotypes are true, there certainly are clear differences among those belonging to the various groupings. Members of each generation were interviewed by Julia Stuart to highlight their differences and similarities and to evaluate the validity of their stereotypes.

Traditionalists or The Silent Generation: 1927-1945, “Seen but not heard”

Q: What were the biggest fads of your childhood?
A: “As a pre-teen we had poodle skirts and saddle shoes.” -Doris Lutts

Q: What did an average day look like when you were a kid?
A: “We turned the heat off in the bedrooms and kept a window open because they told us it was good for us. So, I would get dressed under the covers of my big feather bed that my grandmother made herself. We would have oatmeal for breakfast, and we would walk to school about a mile because my mother didn’t drive. Then, for dinner, well, growing up during the Depression, my family was so frugal. We maybe had one strip of steak or bacon on occasion, and I only ever had ice cream once as a child.” 

Q: What were your biggest takeaways from the politics of your childhood?
A: “It was very difficult to talk about the war because my grandmother had lived all her life in Germany. Some mean children would call my brother and I Nazis.” -Doris Lutts

Q:What was the most advanced piece of technology you had growing up?
A: “Well… we had a Model-T Ford that my father had to crank.” -Doris Lutts

Q: Do you think your generation’s stereotypes are accurate in your life?
A: “We basically were ‘seen but not heard’ when there were adults around. And we certainly were traditional” -Doris Lutts

Baby Boomers: 1946-1964, “ambitious workaholics”

Q: What were the biggest fads of your childhood?
A: “Hula hoops, frisbees, and Barbie were all very big.” -Donna Schmitt

Q: What did an average day look like when you were a kid?
A: “I went to school, played hop scotch and tag with my friends on the street, and then did homework after dinner. Some days I had Girl Scouts or Piano Lessons. On Saturdays we would always watch the morning cartoons.” -Donna Schmitt

Q: What were your biggest takeaways from the politics of your childhood?
A: “America was good, and Russia was bad. We had lots of atomic bomb drills.  Kennedy was great. I saw him campaigning at Bergen Mall in Paramus and the Space Race was a big deal for me.” -Howie Schmitt

Q: What was the most advanced piece of technology you had growing up?
A: “The most advanced technology was probably the first color TV! Maybe the calculator.” -Donna Schmitt

Q: Do you think your generation’s stereotypes are accurate in your life?
A: “I never thought of Baby Boomers as workaholics. We worked 9-5 and took breaks. Unions were very prevalent. I think the Generation Xers were the workaholics.” -Howie Schmitt

Generation X: 1965-1976, “disaffectionate and directionless”

Q: What were the biggest fads of your childhood?
A: “Pet rocks and mood rings.” -Kristie Stevenson

Q: What did an average day look like when you were a kid?
A: “I would go to school in ‘school clothes’, not a uniform just nice clothes and never sweatpants. Then after school we’d play with the neighborhood kids until our parents called us in for dinner. Or in the summer we’d just play until the streetlights came on.” -Nancy Clark

Q: What were your biggest takeaways from the politics of your childhood?
A: “I guess I remember being disenchanted with the government with Nixon and then everything else was about fixing Nixon’s mistakes. I remember Reagan telling Gorbachev to tear down the wall. But I was disenchanted with Reagan too because it seemed like he was half asleep all the time.” -Ash Stevenson

Q: What was the most advanced piece of technology you had growing up?
A: “I guess videogames. We didn’t have the video games you have at home but we had arcade games.” -Ash Stevenson

Q: Do you think your generation’s stereotypes are accurate in your life?
A: ‘I don’t think we are directionless and disaffectionate. I think we are overwhelmed by the issues we need to address. I think we are overcome by violence and greed.” -Ash Stevenson

Millennials: 1977-1995, “entitled narcissists”

Q: What were the biggest fads of your childhood?
A: “Definitely Pokemon, tamagotchis, and beanie babies.” -Jackie Schmitt

Q: What did an average day look like when you were a kid?
A: “An average day was me going to school then aftercare because my parents were both working late. Then at home, I’d watch TV or play outside and eat dinner and then sleep.” -Chris Schmitt

Q: What were your biggest takeaways from the politics of your childhood?
A: “I wasn’t super aware of politics. My first exposure to it was probably the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal. I supported Gore in the 2000 election, but mostly because my parents did.” -Chris Schmitt

Q: What was the most advanced piece of technology you had growing up?
A: “Maybe the Playstation 2 or the flip cellphone.” Jackie Schmitt

Q: Do you think your generation’s stereotypes are accurate in your life?
A “I don’t think my generation’s stereotype of being entitled is true. I think the poor job market makes people believe that to be the case.” Chris Schmitt

iGen: 1996-present, “made lazy and unaware by technology”

Q: What were the biggest fads of your childhood?
A: “Definitely Bottle Flipping! It’s very addicting” -Lauren Stevenson

Q: What did an average day look like when you were a kid?
A: “I get up, I play a 3DS game or watch Netflix, I get ready and go to school. I come home and do my homework right away. Then I’ll watch some TV, and I always eat.” -Lauren Stevenson

Q: What were your biggest takeaways from the politics of your childhood?
A: “Donald Trump won the presidency and he is trying to deport a lot of people. The country is kind of split in half between people those that like him and those that don’t. There’s lots of rallies going on about stuff like that” -Lauren Stevenson

Q: What was the most advanced piece of technology you had growing up?
A: “Probably iPhones.” -Lauren Stevenson

Q: Do you think your generation’s stereotypes are accurate in your life?
A: “My dad always says that I am only focused on technology and I know that a lot of my friends are.” -Lauren Stevenson

Each generation is obviously distinct, but each with different nuances than their stereotypes are able to convey. We must realize that there are external factors affecting each generation, like the economy, wars, and the development of  technology. When defining people, whether it be by their generation or any other factor, it is important to keep the whole picture in mind.

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Julia Stuart
staff writer